The gang and I were sitting in the lobby watching my sister Alaine's fourth match on the TV (Tentacle Vision) screen. She had won her last three matches, at first she had struggled but after the first two matches she seemed to have gotten the hang of things. I glanced around to see what my friends were doing. Sizz was (naturally) flirting with Jazz, who in turn was tuning him out with her music, Si was glued to the TV watching the battle, and Ellie was looking directly at me! Oh ink! I thought, are my goggles on straight? Does my hair look good? I started to fiddle with my pilot goggles and smooth down the three tentacles of my purple hair that always stuck up at the back of my head. Wait! What am I doing! I can't groom myself in front of her! In the process of thinking this my hands had froze, looking very silly on the top of my head. I started to blush, my cheeks turning a deep crimson and my hair changing from purple to pink. Seeing the embarrassed look on my face and my two hands still on top of my head, Ellie giggled, stood up and walked over to me.
"Here," she said with an amused smile, "Let me help you." She reached up onto my head and gently pulled my hands back down to my side. At this my face somehow turned an even deeper crimson, and my hair turned light as air pink.
"Um, t-thanks Ellie!" I stuttered. Argh! I sound so stupid! But Ellie either didn't seem to notice or didn't seem to care, because she responded with a warm smile and said,
"You're welcome!" And with that she walked back over to her chair and continued to watch the match. After that I needed a breather. So I raised my fist and plopped my head on top of it, immersing myself in a world of thought. As much as I wanted to think about Ellie and her bewitching good looks, something else occupied my mind. I just couldn't stop thinking about the shadow-like thing I saw. What is it? I thought, it must be some sort of creature. It was pretty big though, about the size of an adult inkling, maybe that's all it was. Yeah, A really big, really fast, really stealthy adult inkling. I thought about that statement for a moment and grimaced. Or maybe not, so what is it? My train of thought was de-railed as a loud voice sounded over the many speakers set up in the lobby.
"Aaaand the winner is… Green team!" I looked up at the TV screen to see that Alaine's team had won once again. Suddenly the doors to the battle room opened and a crowd of inklings stepped out, one among them was Alaine who looked tired yet at the same time exuberant. We all stood up and walked over to her greeting her with smiles and compliments.
"Maybe you should join our team!" Sizz teased, "You're good enough!"
"I wouldn't be surprised if you became better than even Dae!"Jazz said, "Isn't that right Dae?"
"Huh?" I said snapping out of my stupor of thought just slow enough to sound stupid, "Oh yeah of course, definitely."
"Having day-dreams about girls again Dae?" Si said teasingly.
"What! No! When have I ever done that?" I huffed. Si raised an eyebrow at me.
"Do you really want me to say in front of your friends?" He responded, causing everyone else to laugh.
"Ha ha, very funny well I have an item of importance that requires my attention. See you guys later." They all waved their goodbyes and I started to walk towards the exit when Ellie came running up to me.
"Mind if I tag along?" She asked. I thought about my destination, that being Octo-Valley and a debate started in my head. Dude you know we can't take her with us. Said my logical voice.
Ah I beg to differ, Stated my emotional voice, of course we can take her with us.
But should we? Replied my logical voice, I would think the answer to that question is no.
Well, said my emotional voice, I think it's up to Dae.
So Dae, said my logical voice, what do you chose?
Having Ellie with me sounds…Pretty nice actually. I responded.
Yes! You made the right choice Dae, you made the right choice. Said my emotional voice.
Well when this all goes downhill remember whose advice you didn't listen to Dae. Said my logical voice.
"Of course you can come with me!" I said.
"Thanks." Said Ellie and she smiled a smile so charming I couldn't help but smile back. Sadly the moment didn't last long.
"Now what do we have here, Daedalist has gotten himself a girlfriend has he?"
I quickly turned my head and swapped my smile for a snarl.
"You!" I said my voice full of malice.
"Who's he?" Ellie inquired.
"Eelias Wellborn, son of a wealthy oil tycoon. He's a stuck up jerk, c'mon let's leave." I responded trying to hurry towards the exit, but two large inklings were blocking it. "Pardon me," I started "But would you be so kind as to allow me and my friend to leave?" But Eelias was one step ahead of me. The two hulking inklings quickly turned and tried to grab me and Ellie. Fortunately our reflexes were faster than the blink of an eye and we easily dodged the two goon's clumsy hands.
"Aw, Daedalist and his girlfriend want to leave?" Eelias said in a mocking tone, "Such a pity." He started to laugh, and then so did his two goon's. I eyed the two hunks of muscle standing between me and some quality time with Ellie. Well that settles it then. I thought.
"Ellie go back to the group for just one minute and then come back. This won't take long at all." I said looking straight forward placing my hand on my pocket where I always kept an Aerospray MG. Seeing where my hand was placed her eyes widened.
"You can't be serious Dae! It's not worth it!" She pleaded. But my mind was set, and boy am I stubborn.
"Wrong," I replied smiling, "It's definitely worth it!" And with that I whipped out my Aerospray and pulled the trigger. Let's just say Eelias wasn't laughing anymore. After paying a few fines Ellie and I were finally walking out of the building. I was still grinning ear to ear. I looked at the sky, it was getting late. Better hurry. I thought.
"That was crazy what you did back there! You could have been arrested!" Ellie said her voice full of concern.
"But I wasn't! In fact after I splatted Eelias and his cronies everyone nearby applauded me!" I said holding back some chuckles.
"Just promise me you won't ever do something like that again!" She said tears starting to come to her eyes. Instantly my smile vanished and my victory over my rival was swallowed up like a boat into the sea. I had caused the one I cared about most pain, I deserved to be punished. But I couldn't just sit there and watch Ellie cry! So I did the first thing that came to mind. Apologize.
"I'm so sorry Ellie! I didn't know that this would make you hurt so much! I promise I will never do anything like that ever again." I said remorsefully. She sniffed a few times and after she had wiped away her tears, she actually smiled at me!
"It's alright, I shouldn't have overreacted. I only cry because I care about you! So just stop being so darn lovable!" She said while punching me on the shoulder teasingly. After a few more minutes of walking and joking we arrived at the man hole that was the entry way to Octovalley. I stopped.
"We're here!" I said.
"So why do you have business in a corner by a manhole?" She asked teasingly.
"You'll see, c'mon follow me!" And with that I turned into a squid and hopped through the manhole. Ellie raised an eyebrow, shrugged, and followed me. Soon we emerged from the manhole in Octovalley.
"Whoa." Ellie said trying to take in the whole landscape. Eventually her eyes landed on the heap of rags, medals, and beard that was Cap'n Cuttlefish. "Who's that?" She asked.
"That," I said, "is Cap'n Cuttlefish. And I need to talk to him." As I walked towards him Cap'n Cuttlefish caught sight of me.
"Hi there Agent 3, oh and I see that you brought a friend with you! Agent 4 perhaps?" Cap'n Cuttlefish said in deranged tone.
"Um, sure yeah she is Agent 4. But before you give her the suit and stuff, I have a question to ask you. Have you seen anything strange lately?" I asked.
"What type of strange?" He asked the tone of his voice suddenly becoming serious, all remnants of the deranged old man disappearing.
"I was in the plaza the other day and saw something black, humanoid shaped, about the size of an adult inkling but slightly bigger. I only caught a glimpse of it so I can't tell you anymore." I said the concern rising in my voice as I saw Cap'n Cuttlefish's eyes grow wide.
"I don't know what you saw, but I have detected some very strange activity in the sewers lately. And what you just told me only adds to my concern, we need to stay vigilant Agent 3. I would prepare for the worst; you should head back to the city before it gets any later. Because if there is a mystery creature lurking around, it would be best to stay out of the sewers after dark." The Cap'n made an end of his speech. At this my face paled and my hair changed from purple to white.
"C'mon Ellie, let's get back home." I said rushing us towards the manhole cover.
"What is it Dae?" She said taking notice of my pale face and white hair in the fading light.
"Don't know, might be something might be nothing." I replied.
"And if it's something?" She asked concerned.
"Then it's going to be really bad."
So what do you guys think? Please review!